The influential newspaper Hurriyet Daily News said that the Turkish government signaled the criteria for pre-trial detention could be tightened as the arrest of former Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ on terror charges unleashed a wave of criticism of the government and raised fresh questions over the judiciary's credibility.
7 January: The Turkish political establishment has been rocked by the arrest of the Former Chief of the General Staff, General Ilker Basbug. Leaders of the opposition CHP and MHP parties have criticised the move. President Abdullah Gül commented on the si